Julian Bear Runner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Julian Bear Runner
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| 43rd President of the Oglala Sioux Tribe | |
| In office December 7, 2018 – December 4, 2020 |
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| Vice President | Darla Black (2018–19) Thomas Poor Bear (2019–20) |
| Preceded by | Troy "Scott" Weston |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Killer |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 2008–2011 |
Julian R. Bear Runner served as the president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe from 2018 to 2020. When he was elected, he was one of the youngest people ever to become president of the tribe.
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Julian Bear Runner: A Leader for the Oglala Sioux Tribe
Becoming President: Julian Bear Runner's Election
Julian Bear Runner was elected president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe in 2018. He was 33 years old at the time. This made him the second-youngest person to ever hold this important position. In 2020, he ran for re-election but lost to Kevin Killer, who had previously been a state senator.
Key Decisions: Julian Bear Runner's Policies
As president, Julian Bear Runner made several important decisions for the Oglala Sioux Tribe. These policies aimed to protect the health and rights of the tribal members.
Protecting the Community During COVID-19
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, President Bear Runner took strong action. He ordered a lockdown and asked people to stay at home to stop the virus from spreading. He also set up checkpoints on highways that went through the Pine Ridge reservation. These checkpoints helped to prevent the virus from reaching people living on the reservation. They also helped with "contact tracing," which means finding out who an infected person might have met.
These actions, along with similar steps by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, led to a disagreement with South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem. Governor Noem wanted the checkpoints removed. She even threatened to sue the tribes. However, President Bear Runner refused to remove them. He stated that since the state would not protect tribal health, the tribes had to take action themselves. The checkpoints remained in place.
Supporting Equal Rights for All Tribal Members
In 2019, the Oglala Sioux Tribe passed a new law. This law made sure that all tribal members had equal rights when it came to marriage. President Bear Runner supported this new law. When some people tried to get the law changed through a tribe-wide vote, President Bear Runner cast the deciding "no" vote. This vote helped to keep the law in place, ensuring equal marriage rights for everyone in the tribe.
